News & Reports

This month, we had the privilege of hosting the SOWER Ministry’s 40th Anniversary Rally. The SOWER Ministry (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready) is an RV work ministry of retired couples who travel around the country in campers and RVs, providing help to other Christian ministries. Each SOWER couple has their own skill set—whether painting, electrical, plumbing, sewing, construction, or cleaning—and is able to choose their project locations and how many projects they do throughout the year. Often, those residing in the North will head South for the winter, and then work in the North during the summer. The SOWERs travel the country, meeting and building relationships with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. The group encourages others by voluntarily meeting practical needs and sharing the light of Christ everywhere they go.  Although most SOWERs may be relatively advanced in years, their enthusiasm and joy for living and serving the Lord is remarkable! For example, two SOWER ladies, Jackie and Carolyn, joined our janitorial staff for a two-week time before their Rally. These two ladies literally got the job done in half the time it would have taken our normal crew to do it! Not only did we have […]

Each year, teams of volunteers spend time sharing the love of Jesus with men and women behind bars. Through Christ’s work in lives during Seminars and the Prison Journey to the Heart, inmates find spiritual freedom while still physically behind bars. The 2023 Spring Prison Journey was no exception. Held at the end of March, many people prayed, then volunteers presented the materials to inmates in two prisons. God did a mighty work!  A topic covered on each Journey is the importance of forgiveness and not harboring bitterness. This subject hit home for many of the inmates who have faced various hurts in their lives. In the men’s prison, the Spirit of God was at work convicting the Journey attendees of their bitterness and empowering them to forgive. Following a message on this topic, the inmates were asked how many of them had someone that they needed to forgive that night. Many hands went up across the dorm. One Journey leader led the men in a prayer. First, they confessed their bitterness as sin, and next they asked God’s forgiveness for their sin. Then the men prayed for God to enable them to forgive those that had hurt them. The […]

More than 250 ALERT Alumni and staff gathered to celebrate ALERT’s 29-year anniversary.

Family Conference and Journey to the Heart reports.

Inspiring sessions by live speakers centered on the theme “Continue in the Word.” The Spirit of God was at work strengthening whole families.

Our culture is at a crossroads between life and death. This is evident to everyone in our increasingly sectarian society. But it seems that everyone has a different solution to the massive problems overwhelming us.

The ALERT Family Camp team was excited to welcome over 1,300 people for this year's Family Camp held in Big Sandy, TX from October 8–15. More than 250 families gathered from California to Florida to enjoy a week of camp together.

Early in September, two Family Connections took place on the East Coast. The first was a one-day event in Virginia, and the second was a weekend event in Pennsylvania.  At both meetings, families shared that they were encouraged and strengthened from the time together. Many in attendance were families who had been involved with IBLP years ago. They appreciated reconnecting and meeting other families at the event. Also at the two Family Connections were newcomers. One mother at the event weekend summed up well what many participants experienced: I was very encouraged by the sessions. . . . I couldn’t even begin to pick a favorite. And it was so special to meet other families (from not that far away!) who are passionate about pursuing God. One session shared at each Family Connection was “Freedom from Bitterness.” Following this session, adults and young people had the opportunity to pray and forgive offenders, releasing their bitterness. Each time, God worked in the group and many have realized freedom from bitterness through forgiveness. One family discussed among themselves the little roots of bitterness that had sprung up. They were able to forgive their offenders, release their hurts, and experience joy in reconciliation! […]

At the end of August, around 15 families gathered in Modesto, California for a weekend Family Connection. This two-day event brought grateful families together for the opportunity to hear God’s Word, pray together, and be encouraged in their walk with Christ. One of the highlights of each Family Connection is getting to meet and interact with the attendees. Several of the individuals who attended the Family Connection attended many IBLP events years ago. They were glad to reconnect with IBLP and see the work that God is continuing to do through this ministry. Another man lives in Alaska with his family and he found out about the Family Connection just a few days before the event. Because he was in California for work, he was able to attend the Family Connection and he left encouraged in his faith. Another highlight of the Family Connection was the children’s session that took place as part of the event. The children enjoyed singing songs, memorizing Scripture, and hearing a story. They also made a bookmark reminding them that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God”(II Timothy 3:16). The kids seemed to really enjoy this craft and happily showed the bookmark to anyone […]

Psalm 119:10a gives us an amazing window into the heart cry of the Psalmist: “With my whole heart have I sought thee…” This should be the aim of every believer: to seek the Lord whole-heartedly.

During the last week of April, more than 1,000 people gathered in Big Sandy, Texas, for a week of fellowship and encouragement. Families from all over America came to participate in the Big Sandy Family Conference.

God worked in wonderful ways during the Excel class of 2022! Fourteen young ladies gathered in Big Sandy, Texas, for five weeks of on-site training and discipleship. Each week the young women attended classes designed to equip them to grow in grace and reclaim true beauty.

Understanding we live in a world with 24-hour news and social media postings, we wanted to post a response IBLP made to recent inquiries from a NBCNews.com reporter. We think it is important to post IBLP’s response so that when news articles come out, you will know what IBLP said.

A group of 13 ladies, including 3 sets of sisters, recently gathered in Big Sandy, Texas, for a Journey to the Heart. The Journey house is on beautiful lake Loma at the International ALERT Academy.

At the height of East Texas summer, more than 200 people gathered in Big Sandy for a week of fellowship, encouragement, and strengthening from the Word of God. Many were returning families, while others were first-time attendees. One family came from as far away as Puerto Rico and others from California to participate in the conference!   Some of the wonderful messages from April were shared, including Scott Pauley’s message “Happy Homes”; “How To Be A Man After God’s Own Heart,” by Johnny Pope; and “The Most Outrageous Joy,” by Eric Ludy. New speakers for the Summer Family Conference included Darren Myers, Scott Aniol, Jerry Benjamin, and Joe Norvell. Many of the 2021 Big Sandy Spring Family Conference messages are available online at embassymedia.com, and the Summer Family Conference messages will be available in the coming months.   Thursday evening of the conference, the attendees enjoyed the 2021 Sound Foundations concert. The auditorium echoed with the strains of “The Lord Gave The Word,” by Handel; “There Shall A Star come Out of Jacob,” by Mendelssohn; and the premier of “Jesus Shall Reign,” arranged by one of the Sound Foundations instructors; and other stirring choral works.   The Family Conference Children’s […]

Praise the Lord for the work that He did in the 20 young men and leaders that participated in the Young Men's Journey to the Heart July 10–18. This Journey, held in Big Sandy, Texas, was a powerful time of seeing the Lord work in the lives and hearts of the guys that attended.

Mrs. Anne Garvin, 89, stepped peacefully into Heaven on June 20, 2021. Formerly of La Grange, Illinois, she was residing with her daughter and son-in-law in Plano, Illinois at the time of her Homegoing. Mrs. Garvin was preceded in death by her husband, Phil, in November, 2018.

At the end of May, a group of approximately twenty ladies and their leaders, along with three mothers, gathered at the beautiful Northwoods Conference Center for a Journey to the Heart. The time included large group sessions, team discussions, and personal times with the Lord, with the goal of learning to hear from Him.

Shelley Hendry loved Christian biographies and made history come to life as she shared the life stories of various women from the past. On Sunday, May 23, 2021, her time on earth came to an end when she was killed by a drunk driver.

The ALERT Missions class had the opportunity to serve in the mountains of Mexico for two weeks last month helping the Tarahumara people. The men were able to serve the local community by making much-needed repairs on a community center and a home.